Harry Bernstein Becomes an Author at Age 96

Posted on April 2, 2007

96 year old Harry Bernstein decided to write his memoirs in his 90s, after his wife died. His memoir, The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers (Random House) is receiving rave reviews: it tells the story of his childhoood in Northern England. Harry had an alcoholic father and was subjected to anti-Semitism every day of his childhood. But after moving to America and marrying the love of his life, his life was filled with happiness. Ruby, his wife of almost 70 years, died in 2003 and her death left a great hole in his life. So he sat down at the typewriter and began writing.

Bernstein tells CBS News, "I didn't know what the heck to do with myself. ... You know when you get into your 90s like I am, there's nowhere else to think except the past. There's no future to think about. There's very little present. So you think of the past, particularly at nighttime when you're lying in bed. And it all came back. So I began to write, and I was occupied, and it was really the best therapy I could have had."

CBS News reports that Bernstein writes using a typewriter. He finds the computer too complicated for writing prose but he does use it to check his e-mail.

Bernstein also says, "I've been trained to finish something you start, don't leave anything undone. I just feel I'm not satisfied until I finish what I start. And I will not be satisfied until I start something new."

We just love this story -- he's 96 and he checks his email everyday. He's also working on his next book which has been bought by Ballantine. It really is never too late to start writing.